Recruiting: Two from Detroit Cass Tech building a Michigan bond

March 12, 2013

Detroit Cass Tech running back Mike Weber / JULIAN H. GONZALEZ/DFP

By Tim Sullivan

Detroit Free Press Special Writer

Michigan fans are no strangers to Detroit Cass Tech. Since 2008, U-M football has signed 10 Technicians to scholarships. The Wolverines’ coaching staff has put in an effort to continuing that trend in the 2014 class, offering cornerback Damon Webb (who has since committed to Ohio State).

The big chance to keep the pipeline open comes in the 2015 class. U-M has offered defensive/offensive lineman Joshua Alabi (6-foot-4, 245 pounds) and running back Mike Weber (5-10, 205 pounds). The duo visited Ann Arbor on consecutive weekends, taking in U-M basketball games against Michigan State and Indiana.

“(U-M running backs coach and Detroit-area recruiter) Fred Jackson sat right next to me,” Weber said of the March 3 trip. “We just talked about each other and got to know each other. We didn't talk about football –– the only thing he told me about football was to come up and visit them during one of their team meetings and just see how things are going and how they run their program.”

Alabi said the March 10 visit was more of the same –– and a very positive experience in Ann Arbor.

“It really wasn’t that different, because Michigan played two good teams,” he said. “They were both great games. They won last week, but that lost this one to Indiana. I talked to a lot of the coaches. We went up to the suite (club level), we had some food, talked a little bit. I talked to the coaches and stuff, saw all the recruits. It was a nice time.”

That duo doesn’t round out Cass Tech’s 2015 class when it comes to Division-I prospects. Quarterback Jayru Campbell and defensive end Keith Jones are among those that have already visited U-M. Campbell made the March 3 trip with his teammates.

"I would like to have an offer from Michigan, but they want to see my development," Campbell said. "I believe Mike and I will attend the same school, but if not, probably the same conference."

Michigan is clearly on the rise with the Cass Tech sophomore class and the Wolverines’ coaching staff see Weber and Alabi as the jewels of the bunch. U-M offers in the 2015 class haven’t even hit double digits yet, so for a duo from the same school to earn the honor is high praise.

Tim Sullivan is the Football Recruiting Editor of The Wolverine magazine and TheWolverine.com. He is also a contributor to national football recruiting coverage on the Rivals.com network. You can follow him on Twitter @TimS_Wolverine.